By Oscar Pilipili
The Kenya Karate Federation (KKF) has identified five lawyers who will rewrite the federation's constitution to align it with the country’s new constitution.
"With the new constitutional order, most federation’s constitutions have become wanting ours included. We must it has to be in line with the new Kenyan Constitution. It must revolve around the new devolving system while benefiting from the administrative order," said KKF chairman Caleb Atemi.
"We also want a constitution that will take care of the needs of our affiliate members,and associations," said Atemi after chairing a four-hour meeting of the KKF executive at Nyayo National Stadium.
The five lawyers who will steer KKF into a new future are: Kathoka Ngomo, Albert Simiyu,Dominic Mbigi, Jude Ragot and Christopher Gitau.
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They are all practising black belt karate teachers.
"We settled on the five because they are smart lawyers and great karatekas who understand both the sport and the law," said Atemi.
The lawyers, who will formally be invited by the federation to help in the constitution writing, will also assist the KKF technical bench in setting up a Judges and Referees Commission and a Karate Panel of Examiners.
Atemi said the Commission and the Panel would help reign in on rogue members who invite into the country karate teachers from other nations without consulting the federation.
He said that some of these teachers dish out black belts, certificates and diplomas without following the rules of strict karate grading.
He said that with the new system in place, KKF will be able to closely monitor and control karate grading while liaising with the World Karate Federation, Union of African Karate Federations, and other bodies to put in check ‘quacks’.
"We had to do this because like any other sport, we have individuals who are driven by greed and love for money instead of discipline and professionalism. We shall in future be publishing in the media the names of bonafide Kenyan Karate teachers and shaming those who do not play by the book,: warned Atemi.
